Scarlet - I was thinking about his blanket coats and cowboy boots and jeans being far from twin sets and boat shoes and button downs and izods. But now that I think about what I see in the stores of RL's, it is pretty east coast preppy. I think I had in mind the 80s and those delicious RL ad campaigns with all of the silver/turquoise jewelry and long skirts and bolero ties, etc., which I guess is only one end of the RL spectrum.

I do agree with Nakidra that there's also a JCrew/Land'sEndCanvas sort of casual American style that seems very characteristic.

Oooh, CocoLion - LOVE those Babe Paley shots.

Look at her layered pearls, though. Was she channelling Coco Chanel and a kind of Eurochic?

i agree with a lot of whats been said--ralph lauren, preppy, khaki, denim, denim jackets, and white buttondowns.

I tend to think of a Michael Kors aesthetic: sportswear; clean, classic lines; luxurious materials; colors like navy, black, camel, gray flannel.

Ralph Lauren would be so happy to read this! ( ;

Actually, it's how I'd describe my own style.

I see it as preppy, but also casual, edgy, and with lots of denim. I picture a cross between James Dean and a Harvard man Interestingly, I keep thinking of menswear.

Yeah i'd say Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger

All the Hampton talk is making me think of one of my new favorite show addictions, "Revenge" *_*

I think there are several variations. We are after all a melting pot. Ralph Lauren does bridge the widest looks, from preppy to western.

When I think of classic American style, I think of rugged, distressed, natural denim and leather western style looks.

This was a GREAT response. I love reading your perceptions!

Nakidra made a very interesting point what I had hoped would come up - the difference between what we perceive as CAS, and what most American people wear.

Great list, ironkurtin.

Suz, I think that jeans were invented in Germany and brought over to America

Sarah--you are right that RL sometimes has a strong Western element. I wasn't thinking of that.

Suz/Angie--jeans were invented by a German immigrant (Levi Strauss) in America. At least that's the story according to my German language textbook.

The history of denim and jeans is really international
From Wikipedia
Denim (French town of Nîmes, from which 'denim' (de Nîmes) gets its name) is a rugged cotton twill textile, in which the weft passes under two (twi- "double") or more warp threads. This produces the familiar diagonal ribbing identifiable on the reverse of the fabric, which distinguishes denim from cotton duck. Denim has been in American usage since the late 18th century.[1] The word comes from the name of a sturdy fabric called serge, originally made in Nîmes, France, by the André family. Originally called serge de Nîmes, the name was soon shortened to denim.[2] Denim was traditionally colored blue with indigo dye to make blue "jeans", though "jean" then denoted a different, lighter cotton textile; the contemporary use of jean comes from the French word for Genoa, Italy (Gênes), where the first denim trousers were made.

So jeans are really French???????

Super info, Scarlet and Jennifer. I got my wires crossed a little, but do recall Mr. Levis Strauss being the German immigrant who had something to do with wearing jeans in the US for the first time. And the name denim coming from France (de Nimes). I guess jeans are as Euro as they are American.

Jonesy and Denise, it's interesting that you brought up Michael Kors. I don't think of the designer as AC, but perhaps I should

I think Michael Kors, definitely, as the luxe outgrowth of American classic. I'm less sympathetic to Ralph Lauren. I recently noticed a Lauren ad and the outfit was amazing, pants, perfect leather jacket, ruffly shirt. And then I caught myself and wondered who on earth (besides a fantasizing Lauren customer) would wear this and where. You'd look like you were striding up Madison Avenue looking for your riding crop and whoa, people better get out of the way when you find it. Lauren, I think, made up this Americana stuff out of whole cloth. Once read where the by now traditional trappings of an American Christmas had a lot to do with movie depictions offered up by my fellow Jews who were in the movie industry. The perfect fantasies took off. Same with Lauren, in my eyes.

Whatever Classic American Style is, I don't think I qualify. Rich East Coast Preppy is the stereotype in my mind. It seems like a very, shall we say, non-diverse style. No bright colors, ethnic prints or patterns (unless you count tartan/plaids) so no, I don't think that appeals to me. Of course, I don't mean to knock anyone who dresses in that style...a lot of YLF members do it so well. I think it's a very classic look (obviously). But just not my thing.